WINDHAM — Marion W. Sprague went home to be with her Lord and Savior on January 30, 2009. She had been a resident at Ledgewood Manor in Windham since July of 2008 and was looking forward to the day when she would leave her earthly body and be with her heavenly Father.

She was born on Eustis Ridge, on Dec. 10, 1914 and grew up in Stratton. She was the second daughter of Maurice Lyle Cox and Gertrude Cox. She was married to Edward E. Sprague and moved to the Portland area in the early 1940s. During World War II she worked at the shipyard.

One of Marion's favorite pastimes was walking. From her home on Baxter Boulevard in Portland, she walked daily to her job at the Portland Press Herald where she worked in the bookkeeping department for 25 years before she retired. She loved her job at the newspaper and made many friends during those years of service. After her retirement she made it a habit to walk the boulevard up until she was 90 years old. Perhaps those daily walks are one of the reason she lived such a healthy, long life.

Since 1950 Marion was a member of the First Baptist Church in Portland, where she served as a Sunday School secretary, nursery worker and AWANA worker, as well as other opportunities for service. How she loved the children and how they loved her! Many kept in touch with her over the years.

She is survived by her sister, Carol Gray, of Stratton; her two sons, David M. Sprague of Windham and Michael E. Sprague, of Upland, Calif.; and daughter, Linda M. Niehoff, of Waxhaw, N.C.; her grandsons, David L. Sprague and James M. Sprague of Windham, Paul Niehoff of Dallas, Texas, Sara Niehoff of Dallas, Texas, Eric Niehoff of Atlanta, Ga. and Heidi Barkman of Brazil; her great-grandchildren, Kristen Towle of Westbrook, Ashleigh and Brianna Niehoff of Dallas, Texas, and Timothy and Hanna Barkman of Brazil.

She was predeceased by her grandsons, Kenneth E. Sprague and Brendan Niehoff; and her two sisters, Irene LeClair and Olive Viles of Stratton.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church at 360 Canco Road, Portland, Maine, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 at 2 p.m. There will be a time of visiting following the memorial service.